Kelly Creek Bear

[dadams41]

Me and a buddy have been doing some research for a bear hunt we plan to do the 3rd week of May. We have never been in the area but have been spending time on google earth and read lots about the area.

My question is, would someone be willing to share any info about the area? Particularly a good place to camp and set up so we can access the higher elevations in the area?

Thanks for any help


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[dadams41]

I visited with someone from Fish and Game yesterday and got a good rundown on the area. I should have asked this while I was on the phone but what are the regulations as far as using atvs in Idaho? Someone told me that machines can only be used to transport gear and can not be used on a spot and stock hunt (road hunting) I don't plan to do this but if I'm headed to an area and see a bear, does that mean I can't go after it?

 

[tim]

the high country of kelly creek will still have snow. lots of snow. I have snowmobiled the head waters of kelly creek in mid may.

 

[andrew12gauge]

I visited with someone from Fish and Game yesterday and got a good rundown on the area. I should have asked this while I was on the phone but what are the regulations as far as using atvs in Idaho? Someone told me that machines can only be used to transport gear and can not be used on a spot and stock hunt (road hunting) I don't plan to do this but if I'm headed to an area and see a bear, does that mean I can't go after it?

You got some bad info, if you were hunting in a "motorized hunting restriction" unit then you would be limited only to roads open to full size vehicle travel, but even still if a bear were to run across said road you could park and give chase on foot. Either way I don't believe unit 10 is motorized restricted


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[andrew12gauge]

https://idfg.idaho.gov/hunt/access/motorized-vehicles

Here is a little more on the motorized hunting rule, seems it wouldn't apply in the spring anyway


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[tim]

you can not run atv's off of trails or roads. basically you can not make your own way. also, it is illegal to shoot from the road. now a bunch of people do though.

are you going to acces this area from the pierce wieppe area or the superior, mt way. Hoodoo pass coming from superior typically is not drivable until mid june. The great burn is a great place, it is high country and typically holds snow real late. May is not real late.

the Kelly forks ranger station should be able to help you out.

 

[dadams41]

you can not run atv's off of trails or roads. basically you can not make your own way. also, it is illegal to shoot from the road. now a bunch of people do though.

are you going to acces this area from the pierce wieppe area or the superior, mt way. Hoodoo pass coming from superior typically is not drivable until mid june. The great burn is a great place, it is high country and typically holds snow real late. May is not real late.

the Kelly forks ranger station should be able to help you out.

The plan was originally to come down through Hoodoo but after talking to the forest service today they told me the same thing. They told me up from Pierce may be better.

I was looking at the great burn today and need to do more research but am not sure were to really begin there. Is there any light you can shed on the area as far as access and what areas would be best to look at?


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[dadams41]

Just been looking around on google earth and maps and have found the Powell Junction area around Rocky Point and Williams Peak. Seams like a good area to me. Anyone willing to share some info on the area if they have any?

I never realized how helpful a forum can be. The info has been great so far and i appreciate it all.

 

[tim]

you are going to be hunting down low, where the green grass is. The peaks and basins will still have many feet of snow, like 10 feet of snow in them. there is the Kelly creek trail and also coming up the north fork of the Clearwater by cedars campground, you can go up towards hoodoo pass. all the high country will be snowed in, so make sure your roads are not going over the tops. The road from pierce that follows the north fork of the Clearwater should have lots of grassy slopes coming off of it. Also, the north fork below the confluence of the north fork and Kelly creek is a major river that will be flowing big.

 

[dadams41]

you are going to be hunting down low, where the green grass is. The peaks and basins will still have many feet of snow, like 10 feet of snow in them. there is the Kelly creek trail and also coming up the north fork of the Clearwater by cedars campground, you can go up towards hoodoo pass. all the high country will be snowed in, so make sure your roads are not going over the tops. The road from pierce that follows the north fork of the Clearwater should have lots of grassy slopes coming off of it. Also, the north fork below the confluence of the north fork and Kelly creek is a major river that will be flowing big.

Thanks Tim. Will Kelly Creek be accessible through Pierce at that time? The forest service told me that coming through Hoodoo pass may not be an option until June. It would save me 2 hours coming in from the Hoodoo Pass side but if I'm going to spend my time on the south west side of Kelly Creek anyways, it would probably be best to come through Pierce.

 

[tim]

typical rule of thumb is mid to late june to drive over the top and july before you are completely snow free. this is on a normal winter.

couple of years back I was on the st joe, Clearwater divide. some dude and his wife are going to backpack in the mallard larkins. it is the 3rd week of june and they had their car parked 3 miles from the trailhead and there was 5 feet of snow at the trailhead. the dudes wife did not look to thrilled.

 

[dadams41]

typical rule of thumb is mid to late june to drive over the top and july before you are completely snow free. this is on a normal winter.

couple of years back I was on the st joe, Clearwater divide. some dude and his wife are going to backpack in the mallard larkins. it is the 3rd week of june and they had their car parked 3 miles from the trailhead and there was 5 feet of snow at the trailhead. the dudes wife did not look to thrilled.

Well that's good to know. So we will plan on coming through Pierce. Is that road generally accessible mid may?

 

[tim]

I don't see why it would not. I live in the north part and have mainly accessed that area thru hoodoo pass, but I am snowmobiler and have only spring bear hunted in june.

which state do you live in? you are going to be coming in from highway 12 more than likely.

 

[dadams41]

I don't see why it would not. I live in the north part and have mainly accessed that area thru hoodoo pass, but I am snowmobiler and have only spring bear hunted in june.

which state do you live in? you are going to be coming in from highway 12 more than likely.

We will be coming out of Salt Lake. My original plan was to go up through Missoula and drop down in through Hoodoo but that's apparently out of the question. I guess I could still go up and go through Lolo or I can go through Boise. I will get ahold of the forest service and ask about coming up through the south side.

So have you hunted down by the Bungalow Ranger Station?

 

[tim]

I don't know where the Bungalow station is. I have not hunted in the Clearwater a whole lot. But I have rode a lot of mountain bikes, kayaks and snowmobiles in there.

 

[dadams41]

I don't know where the Bungalow station is. I have not hunted in the Clearwater a whole lot. But I have rode a lot of mountain bikes, kayaks and snowmobiles in there.

Thanks Tim. I appreciate the info. Ill keep posting as we get closer and a through my hunt. Hopefully ill have a good story to tell and some even better pictures to be seen.

 

[tim]

I was at hoodoo pass yesterday. normal snow year, snowline is about 3500 feet. we parked 12 miles from the top of the pass.

 

[dadams41]

Thanks Tim. I appreciate the info. Ill keep posting as we get closer and a through my hunt. Hopefully ill have a good story to tell and some even better pictures to be seen.

Thanks for the update Tim. I have been calling the forest service every other week and asking about the snow levels as well. Hope it clear enough when we come up.

 

[tim]

snotel site for hoodoo basin shows 108" of snow on the ground. Pretty normal mountain snowpack.

 

[tim]

snotel shows 109" snowline is roughly 4000 feet. I did see a nice bruin Saturday, about the 3000 foot level, chewing on grass. I was snowmobiling and spotted him from the truck.